Fire apparatus.



- PATENTED MAY 16, 1906.

B. B. BRIGGS.

FIRE APPARATUS.

mx Q a PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

B. B. BRIGGS.

FIRE APPARATUs.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 27, 1903.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

NTTET: STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

BURDETT B. BRIGGS, OF ORESTON, IOWA.

FIRE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,959, dated May 16, 1905.

Application filed November 27, 1903. Serial No. 182,890.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURDET'I B. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Creston, in the county of Union, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire Apparatus; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the invention.

My invention relates to fire-ladders, more especially to that kind which are-mounted on trucks, also to former improvements made by myself in an application filed May 13, 1902, Serial No. 107,205; and the objects of the same are, first, to provide an improved means of trussing a ladder with a metal truss in conjunction with two oppositely-curved side bars; second, to provide an improved means for raising and lowering the ladder in which flexible draft lines or cables and levers are employed for raising and lowering the ladder and also render the raising mechanism stronger and more effective; third, to provide an improved construction of the main frame or side sills to the truck for the support of the ladder and its raising mechanism; fourth, to provide a simple and effective device for the locking of the axles with the running-gear, so as to prevent the truck from rocking while the ladder is in operation; fifth, to provide a better construction of apparatus of this general character and to provide certain improved details, all adding to the general efiiciency of the apparatus.

To this end the invention consists in the de tails of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed and as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire device, the ladder being lowered upon the truck. Fig. 2 is aside elevation'of the truckframe removed from its running-gear with certain parts cut away and the ladder raised. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the truckframe removed from the running-gear with certain parts cut away and the ladder raised and turned so it is viewed from the front side. Fig. 4 is a modification of the draft-lines. Fig. 5 shows the rear braces removed and one of the side pieces omitted to show construction of the cross-braces. Fig. 6 is a front end view of the truck-frame and spring-locks attached to the running-gear. Fig. 7 is a top end view of one of the spring-locks removed from the truck. Fig. 8 is a cross-section of one of the sides of the ladder on line at m in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A and B designate the front and rear wheels or running-gear, such as usually forms part of the fire equipment of large cities.

C designates the main frame or side sills of the truck for the support of the ladder and its operating mechanism and consists of a pair of longitudinal side sills, each running from end to end of the truck. Each sill is made from a blank of sheet metal of suitable shape and afterward bent so that it presents a tubular part 1 with vertical faces 2, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 6. The vertical or projecting faces or ribs 2 are secured together with bolts or rivets 3, as seen in Fig. 1. To further provide strength to the sills and prevent the tubular part being easily dented, I insert-in the tubular part 1 a wood filling 4 or other suitable material. The filling is preferably inserted before the vertical ribs are secured or clamped together, so as to clamp the metal around the filling when the vertical ribs are brought together, as best seen in Fig. 6. As

will be seen in Fig. 6, the sills are placed some distance apart and are secured to cross-bars 5, with lugs 5 attached to the vertical ribs 2, by bolts or rivets 3.

The truck is provided with springs 8, as is usual in trucks of this class. To look the springs rigid and prevent the truck from rocking when the ladder is being used, I pivot an upright bar 10 to a casting or bracket 11, as at 12. (Shown in Fig. 6.) The bracket is secured to the axle or to the spring above the axle 9 in any suitable manner. Another bracket or collar, 13, is secured by bolts or rivets 14: to the spring-bar 7 or platform of the runninggear on which the fifth-wheel is secured. The upright 10 passes up through said collar and is clamped or locked rigid therein when it is desired to set the truck by turning the thumbscrew in a direction which engages it with the recesses 10 in upright 10, as best seen in Fig. 6. In Fig. 7 I have shown a top view of the collar 13 and which shows upright 10 in cross-section. As will be seen, thereisaspace in the collar to allow the upright to rock edgewise or relative with the length of the axle, which allows the springs to yield or rock sidewise when the truck is being moved without binding or bending the upright 10. Heretofore devices have been employed for locking the springs rigidly, but which necessitated removing them from the axle or entirely from the running-gear, which consumed much more time to set a truck than is required with my device. Again, I have no loose parts to get misplaced or clogged up with mud to detain the operations of setting the lock.

I do not limit myself to any particular clamp or device for locking the upright 10, as it is clear that various devices could be used for that purpose.

The turn-table 25, upon which the ladder and the raising and lowering mechanism are mounted, is, as usual. constructed so that its upper half or section may turn upon the lower half or section 26, which is secured to the truck-frame C in any suitable manner.

The ladder is constructed of two elongated diamond-shaped sides, each composed of two bars 16 and 17, with their middle portion bowed oppositely outward and their ends attached on opposite .sides of a metal truss 18 interposed between, as seen in Fig. 1. The

truss 18 is preferably made flat, but can be of any desired shape, and the intermediate portion of the truss follows close to one bar, 17, and interposed struts or brackets 19, and outward or near its end the truss diverges to the opposite bar 16 to and under an interposed strut 20, which tightens the truss and makes it more effective on the middle portion of the ladder, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. To provide extra resistance against end vibration or tension and also bind the two bars 16 17 at their ends to the metal truss, I provide metal cogs or projections 23 on opposite sides of the truss 18 at a point which will bring them in contact with the ends of bars 16 17, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8. The two sides are connected together in pairs by the rounds 24. The ladder is hinged or pivotally supported at its base or lower end to the support or turn-table 25 or to the uprights or brackets 27, as at 28. A lifting-lever 29 is pivoted at one end at to the upright 27 at a point which is above and forward of the pivot 28 of the ladder, and the other end of the lever is attached to a cross-rod 31, movable under the ladder, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Another lever 0r brace, 34, is pivoted at to the support or uprights 27 at a point which is below and rearward of the pivot 30 of the lever 29 and the pivot 28 of the ladder and is connected at frame.

another point to a cross-rod 36, movable under the ladder and outward or above the crossrod 31, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. A flexible draft line or cable 37 is connected at one end to the lever 29 (or cross-rod 31) and passes upward or outward toward the free end of the ladder to and over a pulley 38, located on the brace 34, (or cross-rod 36,) thence to and over a pulley 39, mounted on the brackets 27, and to a Windlass 40, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As will be seen, the cables 37 pull longitudinally on the lever 29, which requires no bracing, while the opposite is the case with the brace 34, and which I provide with an improved manner of bracing. As will be seen in Figs. 3 and 5, diagonal braces extend from near the foot ends of each side brace-lever 34 to the free end of the opposite brace-lever, as best seen in Fig. 3. Each diagonal brace consists of two bars fastened together at their ends,with their centers bowed oppositely outward and struts 44 interposed between the bars. I have designated the two bars of one diagonal brace as 41 and 42 and the bars of the other diagonal brace as 46 and 47, and which are located on the outside of the two bars 41 and 42 at point of crossing, or one diagonal brace is inserted between the two bars of the complementary brace at crossingpoint. A strut 43 is interposed between the two inside bars at crossing point, and a bolt or clamp 45 fastens the bars of the two diagonal braces together at this point, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. This form of bracing gives a very rigid construction and not liable to bend or buckle in either direction when the cables are drawing on them to elevate the ladder.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the ladder lowered upon a support or bracket (designated as D) and secured to the rear end of the truck- It is to be understood that there could be other similar brackets secured to the truck-frame to carry ladders, as is usual in apparatus of this character.

It is clear that the pulley 38 might be attached to the side of the ladder, as shown at 38 in Fig. 4, and draft-lines 37 lead from the Windlass to the pulley 38 and to the liftinglever 29, as shown in Fig. 4.

Heretofore ladders have been raised with cables connected to brace-levers pivoted rearward of the ladder, which I do not claim broadly; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with asupport, a ladder pivoted thereon, a pair of lifting-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points above the pivot of the ladder and to the front thereof, a cross-rod connecting the free ends of said lifting-levers and movable under the ladder, brace-levers pivoted to the support at points on the side of the ladder opposite to the pivots of the lifting-levers, a cross-rod connecting the free ends of the brace-levers and movable under the ladder, pulleys carried by the free ends of the brace-levers, cables attached to the lifting-levers and passing over said pulleys, and a Windlass mounted on the support and adapted for Winding said' cable.

2. The combination With a support, uprights on the support, a ladder pivoted to said uprights, lifting-levers pivoted at one end to said uprights at points above the pivot of the ladder, the free ends of said lifting-levers communicating With the ladder and movable thereon, brace-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points on the side of the ladder opposite to the pivots of the lifting-levers, and the free ends of the brace-levers also communicating With the ladder and movable thereon, pulleys carried by the free ends of the brace-levers, cables attached to the lifting-levers and passing over said pulleys, and a Windlass mounted on the support and adapted for Winding said cable.

3. The combination with a support, a ladder pivoted thereon, lifting-levers pivoted at one end to the support at a point above the pivot of the ladder, a cross-rod connecting the free ends of said lifting-levers and movable on the ladder, brace-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points on the side of the ladder opposite the pivots of the lifting-levers, a pulley carried by the free ends of the bracelevers, a cable attached to the lifting-levers and passing over said pulley, a Windlass adapted for Winding said cable, and friction-pulleys above said Windlass, as set forth.

4. A frame mounted on Wheels, a turn-table secured thereon, a ladder pivoted to the turntable, brackets on the turn-table, lifting-levers pivoted at one end to said brackets at points above the pivot of the ladder, a crossrod connecting the free ends of the liftinglevers and movable on the ladder, pulleys mounted at points above the free ends of the lifting-levers, When the ladder is raised, cables attached to the lifting-levers and passing over said pulleys, friction-pulleys mounted on the brackets, and a Windlass mounted on the turn-table and adapted for Winding said cables.

5. The combination with a support, aladder pivoted thereon, lifting-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points in front of the pivot of the ladder, and the free ends of said levers movable on the ladder, pulleys mounted remote from the lifting-levers, cables attached to said lifting-levers and passing over said pulleys, and a Windlass adapted for Winding said cable.

6. The combination With asupport, a ladder pivoted thereon, lifting-levers pivoted to the support at a point in front of the pivot of the ladder, the free ends of the lifting-levers movable on the ladder, brace-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points on the side of the ladder opposite to the pivots of the lifting-levers, the free ends of the brace-levers movable on the ladder, cables connecting the lifting-levers With the brace-levers, and a Windlass adapted for Winding said cables.

7. The combination With asupport, a ladder pivoted thereon, lifting-levers pivoted at one end to the support at points above the pivot of the ladder and to the front thereof, and the free ends of the levers having bearing on the ladder, pulleys mounted beyond the free ends of said lifting-levers, a cable attached to the free ends of the lifting-levers and passing over said pulleys, and means to actuate said cable, for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination With a support, a ladder pivoted thereon, a pair of brace-levers pivoted at one end to the support, a cross-rod connecting the free ends of said brace-levers and movable under the ladder, diagonal braces extending from the foot end of each brace-lever to the free end of the opposite brace-lever, said diagonal braces composed of two bars with their centers boWed oppositely outward, and the bars of one diagonal brace inserted between the bars of the complementary diagonal brace at point of crossing, and a strut interposed between the inside bars at point of crossing, cables attached to the brace-levers, and a Windlass adapted for Winding said cable, for the purpose set forth.

9. A ladder pivoted to a support, a pair of brace-levers pivoted at one end to the support and the free ends of said levers movable on the ladder, diagonal braces extending from the foot end of each brace-lever to the free end of the opposite brace-lever, said diagonal braces composed of tWo bars With their centers bowed oppositely outward and the bars of one diagonal brace inserted between the bars of the complementary diagonal brace at point of crossing.

10. In a fire-apparatus truck provided with springs, of a spring-lock consisting of a pair of upright members pivoted at one end to the axle, and the free end of said uprights extending up through a collar attached to the platform of the truck above the axle, each upright pivoted to swing toward the other, and means adapted for locking said upright in said collar, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination With a spring-mounted platform, of an upright attached to the axle and extending up therefrom through a collar attached to the platform above the axle, the opening in said collar being larger than the upright, whereby the upright is adapted to rock therein, and means provided on said collar adapted for locking the said upright therein, as set forth.

12. In a fire-apparatus truck, the combination in a spring-lock, of the bracket 11 attached to the axle, an upright member pivoted at one end to said bracket, and to move With reference to the length of said axle, and the free end of said upright communicating With the collar 13, attached to the platform of the truck, the opening in said collar enlargedso as to adapt the upright to rock in the direction of the length of the axle, and means adapted for locking the upright in said collar, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification, at Creston, in the county of Union and State of Iowa, this 21st day of November, 1903, in the pres- -I enoe of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

BURDETT B. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs S. REX, HENRY L. RoYoE. 

